Let's keep specialty coffee special

The World Of Beverages Is About To Change: Dr Doran Pennington and Dr Christopher Hendon

Dr Doran Pennington is a former student of someone the coffee industry knows well: Dr Christopher Hendon. Doran and Chris story has shades of Good Will Hunting, Doran the former student recruited his teacher to form a start up that has the change to change the beverage industry as we know it. It is called Overpotential. In this episode Kirk visits the ‘Engine Room,’ a start up accelerator within the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the #1 ranked university on the planet by many. While walking through the building Kirk was even introduced to someone making lasers for mini nuclear reactors. Only startups with extremely high potential are accepted to work within the Engine Room. Doran and Chris are working on machines that will alter the chemical composition of liquids and thus their flavour. Kirk was lucky enough to try some altered instant coffee by Nescafé and it was very nice. The group spent too much time looking at cool stuff at MIT that there was only room for a small interview over some Turkey sandwiches, which were delightful. Among topics discussed were startups, innovation ecosystems, water for coffee and more. Not an episode you want to miss!

CVA 1 Year On: Have Things Improved? WIth Craig Simon of Criteria Coffee

Last year the Coffee Quality Institute (CQI) announced sweeping changes to what is known at the Coffee Value Assessment. Coffee professionals were furious that a seemingly functional system of assessing a coffees quality was being replaced by a system that was far more complex. Craig Simon is Australia's leading coffee trainer who was one of two certified Q Grade instructors in the country. Craig has embraced the new changes and teaches the course at Criteria Coffee, his co roasting and education space. Kirk and Craig discuss the new form and whether or not it is practical. Among other things, Craig recounts a notorious incident involving chocolate milk and orange juice and the pre batch topic comes up.... Again!

Australia Chooses Its Favourite Coffee Roaster

'Breakfast Shirts' or Mark Crotti is a content creator who travels Australia as a touring musician and cafe connoisseur. Mark has compiled some data from a survey sent out to his followers. It seeks to find out: Who is Australia's favourite coffee roaster? What is Australia's favourite coffee order? And where is the best breakfast in the country? Kirk and Mark discuss all this week on The Coffee Show!!

Nic Petrie: PBDS, Co Fermentation, UFC

Nic Petrie is the Head of Coffee for Born and Raised, a Melbourne based coffee roasting supplying cafes and sharpening their focus to go direct to consumer. Nic has been one of the lead agitators with pre batched coffee, something Kirk is very familiar with. Additionally, Nic has been big on Co-Fermentation. Kirk and Nic discuss the potential problems that Co Ferments could create and also discuss future UFC match ups for those that are interested. Kirk also delivers a nuclear hot take in the 'Grind My Bean' segment that may well and truly get him cancelled! If you're reading this, like, subscribe, tell a friend and leave a comment. Helps us keep this podcast FREE!!

Why is Specialty Coffee Becoming Mainstream? With Ryan Caisley of Oatly

Ryan Caisley is an ‘Oat Dealer’ from Oatly based in Melbourne Australia. When working in London, Ryan would often serve some of the biggest name actors and sports stars, leading to him eventually featuring in a Hollywood film! Kirk and Ryan discuss famous stars like Jimmy Butler and Emma Chamberlain entering the specialty coffee industry with their own brands that are doing very well. Sustainability also gets a mention as it seems to not be a priority in the context of foreign wars and the cost of living crisis. And finally, Kirk wants Google reviews abolished!! Like this podcast? Like, subscribe and comment to help a brother out!!